Dear Editor: Like Nov. 27 letter writer John Sharpe, I have also ridden the North Shore for 20 years and I agree there has been erosion to the floor from traffic and lack of trail maintenance from years past. But what you omit from your letter is that this is precisely what the North Shore Mountain Bike Association is addressing, and the fundamental
overarching goal of their endeavours.
Hundreds of people under the leadership of the NSMBA have volunteered in recent years to attend to this neglect. They have either decommissioned damaged areas or rerouted and restored trails to a safe and environmentally sustainable level. NSMBA members have donated time and money to achieve this with the help of local businesses. NSMBA is actively seeking to sit down and partner with land owners and stakeholders to find solutions to everyone's benefit.
I agree wholeheartedly that an independent assessment is welcome. But let this be a truly qualified, independent assessment - independent of NSMBA and the land owner. Those of us who have chosen to do something about the state of trails take great pride in the work being done. It really does speak for itself.
We are happy to do this work, and welcome Sharpe and any others to come out and work alongside us if that would help to alleviate your concerns.
John Kearns
NSMBA director of grants and funding
